ROME, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A major heatwave is sweeping across Italy on Tuesday, with temperatures climbing to as high as 40 degrees Celsius in several major cities, according to Italian authorities.

The Health Ministry has issued heat alerts for June 24 and the following two days, urging the public to follow preventive guidelines and report any emergencies to hospitals or the national helpline.

On Tuesday, seven cities, including popular tourist destinations such as Florence in central Italy and Turin in the northwest, were placed under orange alert.

The situation is expected to worsen in the coming days. According to the latest bulletin, 13 cities will be under orange alert on Wednesday, while 12 cities will remain on orange alert and six others will be under red alert on Thursday.

Regional authorities have also issued specific warnings to residents and tourists. In Tuscany, central Italy, temperatures are forecast to range between 37 and 41 degrees Celsius, while Sicily's regional government has issued a wildfire warning for Wednesday due to the extreme heat. ■